2010 events: in and around margaret’s garden

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ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF GARDENING has always been the connection with other gardeners—meeting you. To make sure I get a proper dose of that this coming season, I’ve scheduled two open days, as usual. But I’ve also increased my calendar of workshops, including some that take place right here in the garden in collaboration with nearby Loomis Creek Nursery, the home of my old friends Bob Hyland and Andrew Beckman. A bit more detail, and the year’s events in full:

First, the workshop back story: Last year, Bob Hyland and I started teaching together again, something we hadn’t done in more than a decade, not since our “old lives” in New York City, where he was head of horticulture for Brooklyn Botanic Garden. What started as, “Do you want to do a container workshop at Berkshire Botanical Garden together?” turned into another and another over at his nursery. The bug bit us; we remembered how much fun we have working together this way, so this year’s schedule reflects that.

The April and September workshops begin here with light breakfast, tours and teaching in the garden, then we all head over to Loomis Creek for two-plus hours more learning. Hope to see you at some of the events.

Monday, March 15 – Reading at Arts Center for the Capital Region, Troy, NY, with my sister, Marion Roach Smith, to celebrate Paris Press’ publication of its “Sisters” anthology. 7 PM. Free, but must RSVP to info at parispress dot org. For directions, go to artscenteronline.org. We will read from the anthology, and from our own work.

Saturday, March 27 – Spring Forward: Tips and Techniques for 365 Days of Gardening, workshop by Margaret Roach and Bob Hyland, at Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA; or berkshirebotanical.org, or call 413-298-3926.

Thursday, April 22, 7:30 pm – Friends of Rocky Hills lecture series, at the Chappaqua (NY) Library, free lecture on “Nonstop Plants: Making a 365-Day Garden.” More information and directions under the Adult Programs tab at the Chappaqua Library site.

***To register for Loomis events marked with asterisks: Mail a check to “Loomis Creek Nursery,” including names and phone #’s of all registrants OR email info@loomiscreek.com with name and return phone number to contact for credit card info.

Oh how I wish I lived closer so I could partake! This reminds me of some of the workshops and events I used to attend at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, CA. I miss those, and need to spend more time researching such events in my neck of the woods.

@Todd: Did you say “crocus”? Now that’s a sore subject. One year Andrew (of Loomis, and Martha-land — my neighbor and ex-colleague) and I each planted 4,000 crocus at our respective places. By bloom time there were maybe 200, and by the time the flower were fully open, about 3. Every animal in the area (squirrels, chipmunks I think) got the memo about the feast at Margaret’s and dug them all up. Andrew had similar results. I never tried again, though I should. Keep me posted on your secrets to success.

Welcome, Stephanie. Moles (searching for grubs, etc.) dislodge them, voles eat them, chipmunks and squirrels seem to like to move them around (and even cut down all the flowers, who knows why). It’s a losing proposition here entirely. I gave up. See you soon again I hope (and do not give anybody listed in the preceding sentences the map with directions to my place.) :)

Hi Margaret—I am the Cape Cod gardener on the program committee of my garden club—the Wellfleet Gardeners. We would love to have you come to the Cape and be our featured speaker in 2011–either June or Sept. Please let me know if you would consider this and what your fee is. I love the 365 Day Garden subject, but also the Summer Gardening 101.
Hope you can come!!! Judy Schmitt

Thank you so much for our chat and your talk at “Apartment Therapy” tonight … it’s so good to re-connect after all these years. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait for the garden tour in May. Do you post your address, a meeting place, etc? for those of us that plan to attend?

Welcome, Charlotte. It was nice to see you, too. So glad you put the 2+2 together. Now we have to recall all the details…forensics may be required if memory fails! Closer to the date, http://gardenconservancy.org/opendays will post details of all open gardens nearby (including directions) and I will post a reminder linking to all that, yes. I am in Copake Falls, NY, fyi. See you then — and hopefully here again soon too.

Thank you so much for opening your garden today for the Copake Falls day! We enjoyed seeing such an inspiring garden. Thanks again for your advice on the Kirengeshoma Palmata – we look forward to planting one in our garden.

Welcome, John and Elise. I was happy to meet everyone, and I hope you will come again in a kinder season. The Kirengeshoma needs some protection from late frost, and more water that I gave it this year, but it can achieve shrub-like proportions and is a handsome late bloomer, yes. Don’t be strangers — pop in with your questions here on the blog anytime!

Thank you, Maxine, and welcome. So nice of you to come by and leave such a kind message. I certainly haven’t got it all figured out (to say the least!) but the life here is good for me — seeing the natural world each day, interacting with it. Hope to see you again soon.